An insider's view of the Connecticut dining scene

Sep 5, 2013

03:02 PM

Norwalk Oyster Fest and Taste of Mystic Are This Weekend

By Valerie Schroth

September festival season started off with a bang at Westport’s increasingly popular Blues, Views and BBQ fest by the Saugatuck River downtown last weekend. Undeterred by the high heat and humidity, crowds turned out in force to hear great bands, ride the mechanical bull, watch cooking demos by Matt Storch (Match), Pietro Scotti (Da Pietro), Pat Pascarella (Bar Sugo)—and consume lots of world-class wood-fired barbecue.

The 36th Annual Oyster Festival, at Norwalk’s Veterans Park, features national live entertainment (Max Creek on Friday, Village People Saturday and The Zoo Sunday), a BMX acrobatic bike show, a craft-beer tasting tent, Pirate’s Coast Adventure (Saturday only), and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show—plus rides, a crafts show, and all kinds of good eats (Philly cheese steaks, grinders, sausage and peppers, corn on the cob, souvlaki, pizza, burgers, hot dogs—and plenty of oysters, of course).

The event is held at Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue. Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Children 5 to 12: $5. U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. (All entertainment is included in ticket price.) To purchase tickets, visit seaport.org.